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March 31, 2014

I have been blogging for 3.5yrs now and have never taken a bloggie break. Even when on holidays or when I had a baby I've still had drafts lined up for publishing in my absence. I love to blog and I love interacting with all my wonderful readers. But lately things have been getting a bit hectic for me in my personal and professional life and I feel like I'm not giving my blog the attention it deserves.

Makeup and Macaroons is a hobby blog, I have a job in a completely different field 4 days a week. And lets not forget my toddler son who is verrrrry active and keeps me on my toes all the time. So right now it's getting a bit difficult to juggle it all. And yes, I know there are wonder women out there that can juggle 4 kids under 4, a blog, and compete in fitness competitions but that's not me (Freckled Fox, I'm looking at YOU!). I don't want to feel like blogging is a chore, so taking some time away from the blog will do me good I think.

I do want to thank you all for your continued support throughout these last few years, and a warm welcome to all my new readers. I'll be back again in May 2014 but in the meantime you can keep in touch with me via my Instagram (@lilitsblog).

PS: I would love it if you could take 2 mins to do my survey below, it's just so I can find out what kind of posts you'd like to see more of here in the future. The responses are anonymous.

March 29, 2014

Welcome to another instalment of Femme Boulevard where me and the rest of the FB girls create a look along a particular theme chosen for the month. This month we decided on Hollywood Goddess as our theme. I decided to do a look inspired by Marion Cotillard. To me she is the epitome of a modern Hollywood Goddess. She is always so beautifully styled, never over the top, and oh so glamorous in that understated French way. I also love how she's always smiling in her red carpet photos - makes me happy looking at her, unlike other actresses who seem to have a permanent scowl glued to their face.

Back to Marion and the look I was most inspired by, which was of Marion at the 2013 BAFTAs. In that look she did her hair up in a side chignon, a classic red lip and a winged eyeliner... but, just above the black liner there was a slick of blue liner! Yep, she took a classic look and made it her own.

Left: Marion Cotillard at the 2013 BAFTAs, Right: my interpretation of the look

March 27, 2014

Ok, can we just take a moment and look at the prettiness that is the packaging of Avon's new Overnature range. I'm not normally one to get sucked in by packaging, but this just makes me want to clap my hands in excitement. The white packaging with purple orchid prints on it is so beautiful that you don't even want to open it to see what's inside. But you must, as what's inside is just as beautiful.

Results
One month in I'm pleased to say there is a noticeable difference! I had my hair cut just before I took the photo on the left to get rid of some of the split ends. A month later my hair definitely looks shinier, fuller and less scraggly at the ends. It also feels thicker, and smoother to touch as you can see from the curled hair photo on the bottom. It's far from healthy yet, but it's definitely getting there!

Hair Products I'm using now

TREATMENT: Coconut Oil
This is a new jar that I'm using as I finished up my old one. I bought it from my local chemist for around $8, and as I mentioned in the previous post it doesn't matter what brand of coconut oil you get as long as it's extra virgin. I apply this to my hair about an hour or so before washing it 2 nights a week. As it is an oil I need to shampoo my hair twice to get it all off my hair, so if you are going to try coconut oil then make sure you wash it off well.

SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER: L'Oreal Mythic Oil Shampoo & Conditioner
I got this because the hairdresser recommended it, but to be quite honest it's a bit average for me. I don't feel like they're moisturising enough so I won't be repurchasing it. Maybe for someone with normal hair this would work better, but it's not for me.

DRY SHAMPOO: Cedel Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair*
Since I'm trying to not wash my hair every day, on some days a dry shampoo is a must. Unfortunately I'm yet to find the perfect dry shampoo that doesn't make my roots feel gross. This one is pretty good as it's formulated for dark hair (bye bye white powdery roots!), but after a few hours of applying this my roots feel quite heavy, so this isn't the perfect one for me either.

HAIRSPRAY: L'Oreal Elnett Satin hairspray
I've been using this for quite a few years now. I keep on repurchasing it because it brushes out easily and doesn't make my hair feel crunchy, but gives me the hold that I need.

LEAVE IN TREATMENT/STYLING: L'Oreal Mythic Oil and David Babaii Miracle Elixir spray*
Whenever I'm wearing my hair straight I apply a bit of the L'Oreal Mythic Oil in my palms then rub over my hair to give it shine. This is quite potent, so the tiniest bit is needed as otherwise it makes my hair into an oil slick! Whenever I curl my hair I spray a bit of the David Babbai spray for shine and a bit of definition, as the spray makes it easier to apply without messing up my curls.

So there you have it, a month of using coconut oil and a more simplified hair care routine and I'm already seeing results. I can't wait to see how my hair will feel during the next month's update.

March 24, 2014

Welcome to another instalment of International Beauty where I ask a beauty blogger to tell us of 3 cult products from their country. Today we're visiting the USA with Leticia of Cosmetics Aficionado. Over to you Leticia!

The United States is a great and awful place for the beauty addict. There is so much available to us here, which makes it really hard to stick to a budget when there are always great products and collections coming down the pipeline. Great colors and innovative products are always within our reach.

1. theBalm InStain Blushes

I can’t even narrow it down to one shade with these blushes. They are all just so packed with pigment, look great on the skin, and they wear like iron. I don’t get a trace of fading even on long days, and every shade I have tried has given me a natural looking flush. Each blush retails for $22, but they occasionally have 50% off sales on their web site.

2. Sugarpill Chromalusts

I am a huge pigment fan, and it really doesn’t get much better than Sugarpill’s Chromalusts. The color selection is not for the faint of heart, as shades range from bold blues to reds to lime greens. You don’t have to limit yourself to using them as an eyeshadow. You can also use them as liners! The Sugarpill Chromalusts retail for only $12 per jar, and each jar comes with a lot of product. They are definitely a bargain! They are all very pigmented and stay bold until I wash my makeup off.

3. Milani Shadow Eyez Pencil in Almond Cream

This pencil is not only a great shadow base that evens out my skin tone, gives my shadows a base to stick to, and helps my shadows pop, but it is also extremely affordable for every budget. The pencils retail for only $6.99 each, and Almond Cream has been made permanent in their line.

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Thanks so much Leticia! I know if I was to visit the US I'd be doing a lot of damage to my credit card! So many products to choose from! I'm especially eyeing off those Milani pencils.

Leticia is a beauty blogger from the Pacific Northwest who writes for the blog Cosmetics Aficionado. She’s a makeup enthusiast and Star Trek geek. She covers everything from makeup looks to nail art to beauty product reviews. Smoky eyes are her favorite looks to do, though she does like to do looks from everyday to bold. You can find Leticia on her BLOG, TWITTER , FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

March 22, 2014

I must have been living under a rock because I had heard nothing about the Covergirl Flamed Out mascara before purchasing it. I only bought it because it was new, and it was on sale at Priceline, and I thought how bad can it be? Well let me tell you, if you're after full volume then it's not bad at all! Normally when I get a new mascara it takes a few goes for me to start liking it. Not this one. First swipe and it was love.

March 20, 2014

Normally when I wear blue eyeshadow I tend to pair it with cooler tones, like greys and navies, in the crease. But this time I thought I'll try it with a warmer shade and I really like how it turned out.

On eyes I'm wearing Makeup Geek eyeshadow in Frappe (crease), on the lids I'm wearing Inglot e/s in #15 with Stilla e/s in Lucky layered on top. To highlight the inner corners I'm using Stilla e/s in Kitten. I then lined my eyes with Laura Mercier cake eyeliner in Black Ebony and finished with 2 coats of Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara.

March 17, 2014

Ok, I'm not going to beat around the bush. The Sensationail At Home Gel mani system is the bees knees. It met its claims. It gave me chip free shiny shiny nails that lasted for ages. And it was easy to use. There, now if you want to read my full review then read on, otherwise you know exactly how I feel about Sensationail without having to sit through my ramblings.

When I was first offered the chance to try the Sensationail Starter Kit I admit, I was hesitant. It just seemed too hard. And I have a confession - I'm bad with instructions, in that I simply don't follow them, or only partly follow them. What if in my refusal to follow instructions I resulted in me having ugly nails for 2 weeks. But no, it was absolutely simple to use and without too many instructions :-)

March 14, 2014

I would have to say the Illamasqua matte lipsticks are my absolute favourite matte formula. They are extremely pigmented, and very,very, did I mention very long lasting. But they're not everyone's cup of tea as they're also quite drying. So I was very excited to find out that as part of their new Glamore Collection Illamasqua has released 3 new lipsticks in satin formula, which gives you the same level of high pigmentation but minus the dryness. They aren't as long lasting as the mattes, but then you do have to sacrifice something in exchange for the creaminess.

March 12, 2014

One of the things I get asked all the time is how do I make time in the mornings to do my makeup when I have a verrrry active toddler around, coz let's face it, I'm just not the type to leave home without my makeup on. I just don't feel ready to face the day until I'm fully dressed and have my face on. Well, most of the time my husband is around and looks after our little monster while I do my makeup. Other times I make sure to choose products that are quick and effortless to apply. Here are my time saving makeup products.

March 11, 2014

Hi all, a quick post to let you know that Priceline is having their famous 40% off cosmetics sale. It's on today and tomorrow only while stocks last. It's in store and online. I've already managed to pop in and do some hauling this morning before work.

March 10, 2014

Welcome to another instalment of International Beauty, where I ask a blogger to tell us 3 cult beauty products from their country. Today we're visiting Belgium with Isabelle, who blogs over at Nails & Cupcakes. Over to you Isabelle!

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Belgium is a teeny tiny country right in between France, The Netherlands & Germany, and just across the canal from the United Kingdom. A lot of amazing international brands aren’t even stocked here (think NARS, Urban Decay, Hourglass, Physician’s Formula, ..), so choices are always a lot more limited. Having said that, we do profit from good pharmacy bargains as we are so close to France, stocking most of the French brands. And sometimes, when we’re very lucky, we get a little extended seasonal beauty collection from the couture houses. It was a tough one deciding whether I should really include only Belgian brands, or if I should talk about three products you probably wouldn’t find in a lot of other countries, not necessarily being by a Belgian brand. I chose the latter as there simple aren’t that many purely Belgian beauty brands out there, and even though there are more than three.. I haven’t tried all of them and felt strongly about recommending products I really actually swear by.

First up is the All Matt Plus Shine Control foundation by Catrice. Catrice is a German brand, but is also sold in a few other European countries and… in Belgium! Hooray! It’s a very budget friendly brand and is sold in drugstores here, being in my opinion the best value brand you’ll find here. The All Matt Plus Shine Control foundation is a medium coverage fluid foundation that is supposed to have a matte finish, but actually has a slightly luminous finish which I prefer. There are four shades available, of which the lightest one is light enough for my very fair skin (not always easy to find a drugstore brand that will match a NC15 skin) & it’s only €6.59!

Next is the Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette which is also by Catrice.. I just couldn’t help including it. For anyone who just can’t spend a lot of money on one of the Urban Decay Naked palettes.. This one is a great alternative. The color pay-off is quite nice, the texture of the eyeshadows is very smooth and soft and they apply gorgeously to the lid. You won’t be able to go super dark with these, but for a daily nude look (as the palette names implies), this is perfect! And you’ll pay merely €4.99.

Lastly I did include a truly Belgian brand, and one to be very proud of! ProNails is a Belgian nail care brand that bring out a few special collections a year, are on par with the big international salon brands with a huge basic range of polishes and also have an extensive collection of nail care products. Cuti Treat is an amazing Papaya cuticle treatment with little scrubby lychee bits to remove cuticles and remove dirt from your nails. It prepares your nails to soak up as much goodness as possible from your favourite nail treatment. Treatments by ProNails I really like are the Cuticle Food serum and the Tonic. The Tonic is a conditioner with vitamins and lemon oil designed to strengthen cuticles, while disinfecting the area as well. Cuticle Food is a moisturising cuticle serum which stimulates cell production, which makes your cuticles become softer and smoother in the long run. These all retail for about €15.00 in ProNails salons.

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Thank you so much Isabelle! I have been longing to try the brand Catrice, and your recommendations just make me want to try the brand even more! If only they were available in Australia.

Isabelle writes over at Nails & Cupcakes about the two biggest loves of her life (food & beauty). She's a Belgian girl, who lived in London for a short while and fell in love with make-up there. When she moved back to Belgium she couldn't quite shake the habit of buying pretty makeup products, and after some time she really wanted to start a blog to share her findings and recipes with the world. You can find Isabelle on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and on PINTEREST.

March 07, 2014

Welcome to another instalment of THEN & NOW where I take a look back at a product I liked (or didn't like) a while back, then see if my opinions have changed over time.

Today we'll be looking at MAC Melba, a very coveted blush in the beauty blogging field. It's a matte muted peach shade which is quite pigmented and gives a delicate flush to the cheeks. I first wrote about it back in March 2011 (!) and at the time it was a favourite of mine. And now? Ummm... hmm... well as you can see from the NOW picture, this hasn't had much use at all! As gorgeous as it is in the pan, on my skin it takes on a muddy appearance and makes me look dirty. I don't know how it was a favourite of mine a couple of years ago, but right now it definitely does not suit me. I might have to give it away to a friend of put it up on a blog sale, because right now it's just gathering dust in my draws - unused and unloved.

March 04, 2014

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Gold Coast for a mini family getaway. We've travelled quite a lot with our one and a half year old son, but I can honestly say this was probably the most relaxing holiday with him yet. Our little monster was so easy to handle, I don't know if it was the water, the weather or just the fact that we were away from our usual routine, but he was just a delight. Ok, there were some tough moments, but all up it was great. Yay, and here I was thinking that now that I'm a parent all relaxing holidays are over for us.

Anyway, I even managed to snap some pics of me for a FOTD post one afternoon while our little boy was napping. This was a look that I did on most days, smudged smokey brown eyes, peachy cheeks and lips.

March 02, 2014

If you're imagining a birthday cake shaped eyeliner, ummm... no. That's not a cake eyeliner. A cake eyeliner comes in a pressed powder format, but is highly pigmented and you need to apply it with a damp sponge for it to work (damp with either water or some kind of makeup sealant). The effect you get is similar to gel liners, but it's much easier to work with.